DES MOINES, IA – Grand View closed out conference play in style Saturday afternoon, celebrating Senior Day with a doubleheader sweep of Clarke University, taking game one 7-3 before securing a 5-2 victory in game two. Backed by timely power, dominant pitching, and an emotional return to the circle from senior Addison Halstead, the Vikings put together a complete team effort in front of the home crowd.
GRAND VIEW 7, CLARKE 3
The Pride struck first in the third inning, using a three-run frame to jump in front 3-1, but the Vikings answered immediately and never looked back.
Grand View opened the scoring in the first when Grace Anderson lined an RBI double down the left field line to score Elle Nelsen for the early lead.
After Clarke surged ahead in the third, the Vikings responded in dramatic fashion. With Anderson aboard, Alexia Jarrett launched a two-run home run to left center, tying the game at 3-3 and igniting the offense.
Then came the fourth.
Nelsen scored on an aggressive baserunning play to put Grand View back in front before Nevaeh Randall delivered the big swing of the inning, blasting a two-run homer to stretch the lead to 6-3.
The Vikings added insurance in the fifth when Gabriella Taber drove in Reese Cooley with an RBI double, extending the lead to four.
In the circle, Molly Breeding was lights out in relief, tossing four scoreless innings with five strikeouts to earn the win. Then came one of the most memorable moments of the afternoon, as Halstead made her return to the circle after battling back from injury earlier in the season. The senior closed out the game with a scoreless appearance and a strikeout, putting an exclamation point on Senior Day.
Grand View matched Clarke with seven hits, highlighted by home runs from Jarrett and Randall while Anderson scored twice and helped spark the offense.
It was power. It was resilience. It was a Senior Day statement.
GAME ONE NOTES
• Breeding earned the win with 4.0 scoreless innings and five strikeouts.
• Halstead made her return from injury and tossed a scoreless outing in relief.
• Jarrett and Randall each homered and drove in two runs.
• Anderson scored twice and added an RBI double.
• Taber added an RBI double in the fifth.
GRAND VIEW 5, CLARKE 2
The Vikings carried that momentum into game two and completed the sweep with another strong all-around performance.
Clarke scratched across a run in the first, but Grand View answered in the second when Taber delivered again, lining a two-run single to right to bring home Cooley and Caedence Risius for a 2-1 lead.
Grand View added separation in the fifth. Jarrett delivered an RBI single to score Anderson, then Risius lifted a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 4-1.
The Vikings tacked on another insurance run in the sixth as Chloe Kottlowski laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Bianca Prickett and make it 5-1.
Risius was outstanding in the circle, tossing six strong innings while allowing just one run and striking out seven to earn the win. Halstead returned for her second appearance of the day and recorded the final three outs to help secure the sweep.
Grand View totaled nine hits in the victory, led by a two-hit effort from Randall, while Taber drove in two and Risius contributed both at the plate and in the circle.
A complete team effort capped Senior Day the right way.
GAME TWO NOTES
• Risius earned the win with 6.0 innings and seven strikeouts.
• Taber drove in two runs in the second inning.
• Randall posted a two-hit game.
• Jarrett, Risius and Kottlowski each recorded RBI.
• Halstead appeared in relief in both games of the sweep.
UP NEXT
Grand View has one final double-header before heading to post season against Saint Xaiver at 12 & 2PM.